Stressed out? Here are somethings to remember
When you feel stressed, remember: “There’s more to life than increasing its speed” (M. Gandhi)
If you were to walk into a so-called corporate office, you are most likely to find Mr. Stress. He is everywhere. You will hear him walking the corridors. At first, you might think that his fast pace is enthusiasm or drive. But, we don’t judge books by their covers though, do we?
Let’s face it; we tend to use this word in our daily conversations. But do we really know what it is? What causes it?
Let’s look at stress in two perspectives.
Western concept of stress
Hans Salye defined stress as ‘Body’s non-specific response to a demand placed on it”. An athlete needs to put a certain amount of stress on their muscles to get stronger. We humans are made to withstand a reasonable amount of stress. So, stress is not totally unnatural. However, just like a rubber band, we have our limits. If pushed too far, our response to the demands placed on us will break us apart.
Stress is not necessarily some thing bad. It is part of life. It is how we manage it that makes the difference in its functionality or otherwise. Imagine a world without stress. It is unexciting, boring, lazy and lethargic. The stress of exhilarating, creative and successful work is beneficial while that of failure, humiliation or infection is detrimental.
There are two kinds of stress
Positive stress is called ‘Eustress’. It is healthy, creative and joyful way of growth and expansion, testing one’s abilities, acquiring new skills and broadening horizons.
The negative aspect of stress, called ‘Distress’ is what we often refer to as stress. It interferes with performance and creates negative emotions, hopelessness, vulnerability and frustration.
The negative effects of stress can also be explained scientifically. The normal style of metabolism that builds the body called anabolic metabolism converts to it opposite, catabolic metabolism, which breaks down tissues. Adrenaline launches a cascade of responses – blood pressure rises, muscles tense up, breathing becomes shallow and rapid, sexual desire and hunger are suppressed, digestion stops, brain becomes hyper alert and the senses uncannily clear. So, as a temporary expedient, the stress response is vital, but if it is not terminated in time, the effects of catabolic metabolism are disastrous.
Eastern concept of stress
Upanishads proclaim that our original and natural state of existence is that of absolute happiness and bliss, a state of Ananda. Patanjali called it ‘Swarupa’. It is a stress free state. The mental modifications (Chitta Vrittis) disturb us from that state and bring in imbalances is what a yogi will refer to as stress.
In eastern philosophy, stress is defined as VEGA – excessive speed. Stresses are our emotional reactions (UDVEGA). The source Udvega is fear. These negative reactions cause pain and leads to ailments and diseases. Imbalances at the emotional level manifest as upsurges, which are caused by strong likes and dislikes.
In other words, stress begins in the mind as uncontrolled surge of emotions (Bhavana). Emotions such as anxiety, depression, tension, anger, frustration etc are psychological responses to demanding situations.
Stress will exist; awareness can help you overcome it
Quite often, we are not aware of ourselves. We are ignorant of our own limitations and potentials. We take stimulants like coffee, tea, etc., and call it relaxing. Knowing how to identify a problem is the first step towards finding a solution. So let’s look at some examples of how stress can affect us:
High muscle tone evidenced by stiff muscles in several parts of the body. (Neck. Arms, back, legs etc)
Increased pulse rate (Normal around 70/) and high blood pressure (Normal 120/80)
High breathing rate (Normal 15-20/M)
Periodic out bursts of anger, fear, depression etc.
General irritability and boredom.
Restlessness, lack of concentration and decreasing quality in thinking.
Take time for yourself and bring more awareness into your life
“Stress is like weather, every body talks about it and no body does anything about it”
A regular practice of any sort that will make you pay attention to your body and mind can help. When you get deeper into your practice, you will start paying more attention to your life, situations and emotions. Perhaps you need to go on walks. Maybe you need to spend more time with nature. You need to find out what will help you get away from the things that create excessive pressure in your life.
Regular meditation and yoga can help you identify your triggers by making you more aware of your body and your reactions to situations. As it is with most things in life, if a person or a situation is constantly making you tensed, perhaps it’s time for you to move on. Removing yourself from toxic environments and toxic possibilities is different from running away from your problems!
Life can be challenging. And one should face life’s challenges and overcome them. However, health and quality of life also matter. You can’t win a race if you over train yourself and make yourself susceptible to injury. To win a race you need to be physically and mentally ready. So, the next time you feel stressed, take a minute or two and bring awareness to how it happened. Was it something that someone said or did? Was it because of your workload? It could be a combination or all because of the fact that you are unhappy about your life.
Monkey see, monkey do. Monkey pee all over you.
Remember, there’s more to life than increasing its speed. Just because everyone around you is running around the office doesn’t mean you need to do the same. Don’t let the outside world affect your inner peace. Confidence and awareness will help you understand the why’s of your surroundings. Be realistic about yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses and don’t be afraid to say no. Don’t hesitate to be different if that’s who you really are.
Don’t try to over please anyone. Not even yourself! Your goals will still be there tomorrow. Don’t be complacent but don’t be consumed by achievements or someone else’s’ demands. Your quality of existence today matter. After all, it takes days seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years to make a lifetime. So how you feel every second will add up. Pay attention to the seconds that will make up your years!
Lastly, don’t think of stress as a totally negative thing. Sometimes it’s an indicator that you need change. Maybe you need to change your lifestyle or your job. Or both! The important thing is that you recognize the cause and take steps to overcome it. You may be going through growing pains. So, the next time you feel stressed, take a deep breath and see what your body and mind is telling you. No one knows what’s going on inside of you than yourself!